Tony Nguyen is a Trailblazer

After losing his job as regional manager at a sandwich shop, Tony Nguyen found himself unemployed and facing the decision of what to do next. It was during this time that he first discovered Trailhead, Salesforce’s free online learning platform. Determined to make a fresh start, Tony set out to not only find new employment but also transition into an entirely new career field.

Tony embarked on a rigorous self-study program to become a certified Salesforce Administrator. With Trailhead’s gamified interface and comprehensive trails, he quickly learned the ins and outs of Salesforce. When he got stuck or needed support, he leaned on the Trailblazer Community’s global network for career guidance, professional networking, and help in solving challenging questions. This network introduced Tony to PepUp Tech, which offered additional support and resources for his career advancement.

Tony’s determination paid off when he earned his Salesforce Admin certification and secured his first role within the ecosystem. He then transitioned from admin to consultant at Slalom, a business technology consulting firm and Salesforce partner. While there, Tony applied his Salesforce expertise to help his clients optimize their use of the Salesforce Platform. From implementation and integration to optimization and enhancement, Tony provided strategic guidance every step of the way, meeting the technical requirements of his clients and driving business value and their individual objectives forward.

Today, Tony continues to build on his foundation for a long and successful career within the ecosystem in his latest role at Minnesota IT Services, partnering with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and MNsure. He is responsible for leading a team as they spearhead the DHS’s implementation of Salesforce. Expanding on the state-run Provider Hub, a user-friendly web platform that simplifies licensing and certification processes, the team’s goal is to digitize and simplify the application process for over 20 different DHS license types. They aspire to set the gold standard for Salesforce-government partnerships. Looking ahead, Tony seeks to utilize Salesforce’s AI capabilities to help summarize case management notes and create efficiency. As a result, DHS staff can spend more time with the constituents they serve.

Tony continues to pay it forward by championing mentorship within the community, co-creating Trailmates, a community mentorship group. Mentorship was a huge factor in the success of his own early career, and remains a passion of his. In the absence of a formal Trailblazer mentorship program, Tony recognized the gap this created. He relied heavily on the community during his initial introduction to the ecosystem, so he was no stranger to the importance of strong interpersonal professional relationships. He has since made it a point to continue to give back by empowering others to make important connections.